UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says ordinary Iranians are feeling the effects of international sanctions, including rising inflation and unemployment and a shortage of life-saving medicines.

Ban said in a report to the UN General Assembly on October 5 that humanitarian operations in Iran are also being hampered because of the international restrictions.

Iran has been hit with sanctions by the UN Security Council, the United States, and the European Union over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can be directed toward the production of nuclear weapons.

Iran denies having an atomic weapons program.

In his report, the UN chief said Iran’s general population is now facing escalating inflation, a rise in costs for commodities and energy, higher unemployment, and a “shortage of necessary items, including medicine.”

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

By RFE/RL